Yocheved Lindenbaum asks an important question. It is one that I hope List-members will address in their usual thorough and informative manner. However, I wonder, for purposes of the discussion, what qualifies as professional development? What is the working definition?
Does it have to be something school-based? Can it be something that is community-based? For example, a report on the increase in the rates of divorce? What about a report by the head of the Bet Din about how conversions are handled? How about a doctor speaking to teachers about how to limit the spread of a certain bug? Yes, these can all impact us and our students but they are not school or edu-centric. This is information from the outside coming into the school community.
What if the PD day is spent on something a little more personal to the teachers - is that ok?
I know a school that brought in an accountant to speak to teachers about tax-issues and financial planning. Or what about the PD day that had nothing to do with teaching and had everything to do with stress relief techniques (Nia, yoga, and dance sessions were offered)
Again, a terrific topic and I look forward to hearing from my fellow List-members.
Rabbi Avraham A. Witty
Toronto, Canada
